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Emma & Ruan

It’s Australia Day, and the sun is hopefully shining, the sausages are ready, the lamb is on the BBQ and there are plenty of pavlovas being covered with cream. So what better day to share an engagement shoot that is so beautifully Australian to me. Luisa Brimble captured this simple yet meaningful engagement session for Emma and Ruan with Stefanie Ingram styling the shoot.

Luisa explains.  “When they booked their engagement shoot Emma mentioned to me that they wanted their engagement shoot to be peaceful and to reflect the most favourite thing they love to do together as a couple – weekend breakfast together. Emma said “we love weekend breakfast we always make a point to make a meal out of it, either making it at home or going to a cafe.” Emma chose Turimetta Beach as they have shared so many mornings there taking early morning walks and dips in the ocean but have never had breakfast there. So we thought that it would be a different twist to the usual cafe. I think after this shoot we may have possibly started a new tradition, one reserved for a special occasion. ”

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Emma says, “We wanted our engagement shoot to be peaceful, a beautiful memory we could keep. We chose the beach as nothing says relaxation like the soft sand and lapping waves. Our first home together was at the beach and we have shared so many mornings there taking early morning walks and dips in the ocean. As for the bacon & eggs…we thought it would be fun (and yummy!) to cook up a breakfast on the sand. We will never forget it.”

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On how they met, Emma says, “Ruan and I knew each other for many years before dating. We spent many high school parties crossing paths and hi5-ing but never got to know each other until years later. We ‘met’ through a mutual friend one day and got cosy while Ruan serenaded me with his guitar playing. Before long we were spending most of our time down by the water while he played and I sang. 4 years later Ruan proposed.”

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Emma retells how Ruan proposed.  “It is such a funny story as we went to a ‘highly recommended’ restaurant which turned out to be empty for the whole night except for us! I was chatting away so much that I didn’t even see the ring box in front of me. Ruan had to get my attention and tap the dinner table so I’d look down! I just remember the whole place slowing down and feeling really peaceful. For the rest of the night I felt like it was our first date and I couldn’t stop giggling and blushing.”

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Emma loves Ruan’s sense of humor. “The first time we were separated was when I had to go away for work for a week. I was so excited to get to see Ruan when I got home that I called him when I was on my way home to let him know to come over and see me. He knew that we would be seeing each other at that time but told me that he couldn’t come over as he was helping his dad with some housework. I was so upset that he didn’t want to see me. When I walked into my home he greeted me at the door with his big cheeky grin. He is always playing tricks and surprising me in unexpected ways!”

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What do they love about each other? Emma says, “Ruan has such a good heart, and the biggest smile in the world!”,  Ruan? “Emma has an incredible caring nature, she goes to great lengths to put other people’s needs in front of her own.”

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